US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday voiced hope of managing differences over Taiwan with China after Beijing’s furious warnings against a potential visit to the island by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
Asked about a trip by Pelosi, Blinken did not comment directly but said President Joe Biden made clear in a call Thursday to his counterpart Xi Jinping that the United States “strongly opposes any unilateral efforts” to change the status quo on Taiwan.
“We have many differences (with #China ) when it comes to #Taiwan, but over the past 40 plus years, we have managed those differences. It would be important as part of our shared responsibility to continue to manage this in a wise way’ says @SecBlinken .
— Hiba Nasr (@HibaNasr) July 29, 2022
“We have many differences when it comes to Taiwan, but over the past 40-plus years, we have managed those differences and done it in a way that has preserved peace and stability and has allowed the people on Taiwan to flourish,” Blinken said, referring to the period since the United States switched recognition from Taipei to Beijing.
“It would be important as part of our shared responsibility to continue to manage this in a wise way that doesn’t create the prospect for conflict and keeping open lines of communication on this issue,” Blinken told a joint news conference with his Japanese counterpart.
“We believe direct communication between the leaders is the most essential aspect of meeting our responsibilities to manage issues as far as Taiwan in the most responsible way possible.”
Read more: China to US: There will be consequences of Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan
The Biden administration has been quietly uneasy about a trip to Taiwan by Pelosi, who is second in line to the presidency, for fear that Beijing — which claims the self-ruling democracy — would see it as a provocation.
Pelosi, a member of Biden’s Democratic Party who has long been critical of Beijing, has not commented on her travel plans but said she does not support Taiwan independence.
AFP with additional input by GVS News Desk